Effect of various green manure crops on the yield and quality of potatoes

Abstract

6 trials, 3 in autumn and 3 in spring, were carried out at the Gatton Research Station in 1963-6 to evaluate the effect of green manuring with (a) soyabeans, (b) cowpeas, (c) maize or (d) maize/cowpeas on the yield and quality of a subsequent potato crop; a bare fallow control (e) was included. Tuber yield and quality were unaffected by (a), (b) and (d), but (c) reduced both compared with (e). The effect of green manuring on incidence of scab [Streptomyces scabies] varied widely. Ammonium sulfate applied as a side-dressing generally increased yields and reduced scab infection.-F.A.S.